This afternoon at 18:00 CET, all eyes will be on Spain as it hosts the 22nd edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be held in Spain today at 18:00 CET, live from Madrid’s La Caja Mágica. Under the slogan “Let’s Bloom!” the event aims to showcase the blossoming talent and creativity of young artists.
So far, 21 winners have made history in Junior Eurovision, with French artist Zoé Clauzure taking the title last year with her song “Cœur.” Today, she will pass the torch to the next young artist who will continue to add to this legacy. Who will it be?
Who is Competing in Junior Eurovision 2024?
Young artists from 17 countries will participate in this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest. They’ve traveled to Madrid in pursuit of two dreams and are sure to fulfill at least one of them: experiencing the excitement of performing on a Eurovision stage. Their second wish is to win the competition, but only one contestant will claim the prized trophy, as decided by the audience and juries.
Here’s the running order of the 17 participating countries, all hoping to take home the iconic and newly designed crystal microphone trophy. Best of luck, and may every minute on stage be unforgettable! Spain welcomes you with open arms.
| Order | Country | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Italy | Simone Grande | «Pigiama Party» |
| 02 | Estonia | Anabelle Ats | «Tänavad» |
| 03 | Albania | Nikol Çabeli | «Vallëzoj» |
| 04 | Armenia | Leo Mkrtchyan | «Cosmic Friend» |
| 05 | Cyprus | Maria Pissarides | «Crystal Waters» |
| 06 | France | Titouan Hervo | «Comme Ci, Comme Ça» |
| 07 | North Macedonia | Ana & Aleksej | «Marathon» |
| 08 | Poland | Dominik Arim | «All Together» |
| 09 | Georgia | Andria Putkaradze | «To My Mom» |
| 10 | Spain | Chloe DelaRosa | «Como La Lola» |
| 11 | Germany | Bjarne | «Save The Best For Us» |
| 12 | Netherlands | Stay Tuned | «Music» |
| 13 | San Marino | Idols SM | «Come Noi» |
| 14 | Ukraine | Artem Kotenko | «HEAR ME NOW» |
| 15 | Portugal | Victoria Nicole | «Esperança» |
| 16 | Ireland | Enya Cox Dempsey | «Le Chéile» |
| 17 | Malta | Ramires Sciberras | «Stilla Ċkejkna» |
Interesting Fact: More Solo Boys Than Girls Competing This Year
This year’s Junior Eurovision sees a historical shift as there are more solo boys than girls participating—a trend not commonly seen in the contest’s history.
Participants: One Absence but Two Comebacks
This year’s Junior Eurovision sees a notable absence from one of the Big Five, the United Kingdom. Despite returning in 2022, the BBC decided to withdraw due to low ratings when the event aired on Sunday, casting doubt on a potential return anytime soon.
However, Spain’s debut as host is bolstered by the return of two countries: Cyprus and San Marino. With their addition, the contest has one more participant than in recent years and boasts a total of 17 participating countries—the fourth time in Junior Eurovision’s history to feature this many entries.
Cyprus was a founding country of the contest in 2003, and this marks its 10th appearance. The country’s best results include two 8th-place finishes in 2004 and 2006. After withdrawing in 2017, Cyprus now returns with renewed enthusiasm, aiming for a top ranking.
San Marino, which attempted to debut in 2008, finally succeeded in 2013, competing three times until 2015—the last year Junior Eurovision was held on a Saturday. This year, San Marino returns in 2024 as the event once again takes place on a Saturday. They hope to improve on their debut 10th place, achieved in a smaller field of only 12 participants.
20 Countries Will Broadcast the Event
While this edition does not set a record for the number of countries broadcasting the event, it will be one of the most widely aired Junior Eurovision contests, even if not all broadcasts are on prime channels. A total of 20 countries will televise the event, which ties it with the 2018 and 2021 editions.
In addition to the 17 participating countries, three non-competing countries will broadcast the show:
• Lithuania, airing the event for the second consecutive year after last competing in 2011.
• Croatia, winner of the first-ever Junior Eurovision, which left the contest in 2006 but briefly returned in 2014, with plans to re-enter in 2025.
• Luxembourg, which returned to the main Eurovision contest this year after a 30-year absence, will present Junior Eurovision to its audience for the first time. Could we see them competing soon?
Who Will Host Junior Eurovision 2024?
This year’s show will be hosted by a trio: Eurovision favorite Ruth Lorenzo, actor Marc Clotet, and former Junior Eurovision contestant Melani García.
Ruth Lorenzo, a beloved figure in Spain, represented her country at Eurovision 2014, achieving a Top 10 finish with “Dancing In The Rain.” Since then, she’s continued her music career and hosted shows like “Cover Night” and the third edition of Benidorm Fest.
Marc Clotet is an acclaimed actor known for films like La Voz Dormida and El Jugador De Ajedrez, as well as TV series such as Física O Química and Amar Es Para Siempre. In 2021, he founded his own production company, co-producing Esto No Es Suecia with RTVE, which received acclaim at both the Cannes Series Festival and the Prix Europa Awards.
Melani García, who represented Spain in Junior Eurovision 2019, brought the country back to the competition with a stellar 3rd-place finish and 212 points, the highest score Spain has achieved in Junior Eurovision.
Recaps, Last Year’s Winner, and Special Guests
To refresh viewers’ memories, two recaps of each performance, lasting around 15 seconds, will be aired. Following the first recap, last year’s winner, Zoé Clauzure, will be interviewed by Melani García, marking a grand farewell to her Junior Eurovision reign.
After the second recap, special guest Abraham Mateo will perform his hit song “Maníaca.” Around 19:32 CET, public voting will close, and the vote-counting process will begin.
In a new twist this year, the show’s executive supervisor, Martin Österdahl, will verify the vote counts from the control room rather than the stage. By 19:42 CET, the jury points will be revealed using a faster method to streamline the voting process.
Scores from 1 to 8 and 10 points will be added to each country’s total, followed by two blocks of 12-point announcements from spokespersons based in each country. Fans can look forward to appearances by familiar faces like France’s 2022 Junior Eurovision winner, Lissandro.